Eve AdamsConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to agent orange, our government acted when the Liberals refused to act.

When it comes to homelessness, our government is taking action. In fact, in March we established the new emergency funds that allow veterans and their families to access emergency cash when there are no other funds available. We have established new initiatives in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, to help with the homeless. We have asked all of our district offices to go out and search, and assist our homeless veterans.

We take our veterans very seriously. In fact, no other government has served our veterans more honourably.

Mr. Speaker, after spending two very difficult years in Albania, Arjan Tabaj and his family are finally back in Canada. The Federal Court ruled that this family had been deported without justification.

Today another family is being separated by this government. Ms. Paola Ortiz came to Canada to escape a life of physical abuse. She is married and has two children. As we speak, she is on a plane headed back to Mexico, back to the hardship and violence she was fleeing.

Why has the minister not intervened to avoid ripping this family apart?

Candice BergenConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, part of CBSA's mandate is to investigate and remove persons who are in violation of Canada's immigration laws. Those individuals who are assessed to be in violation and do receive orders, do receive due process before the law. They are subject to various levels of appeal, including a pre-removal risk assessment.

Mr. Speaker, by attacking the savings of Canadians with dual citizenship and imposing massive fines on them, the American government is threatening the financial security of hundreds of thousands of Canadians. The Conservatives responded by writing a letter.

Why is the government allowing the United States to treat law-abiding Canadians as though they were tax-evading billionaires?

Shelly GloverConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question. We share Canadians' concerns about this situation. We raised those concerns directly with the American government. Most Canadians who are affected by this are honest, hard-working people who obey the law. We have to do more, which is why we asked the United States government to treat these people with clemency. We also clearly explained that the Canada Revenue Agency will not collect the fines imposed by the IRS under FBAR on their behalf.

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are only too happy to cave in to any U.S. demand when it comes to security, but they allow the U.S. to threaten Canadian jobs with its protectionist buy American policy, and now they have failed to defend law-abiding Canadians.

Conservatives are eager to follow U.S. orders on border security, but they do nothing to protect our own citizens from the American taxman.

Why will the Prime Minister not pick up the phone, call President Obama, and stand up for Canadians' interests?

Shelly GloverConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, as I said just a moment ago in French, we have acted on this file. We have the same concerns that most Canadians have. That is why the Minister of Finance took immediate action and spoke with our American counterparts. That is why he wrote a letter indicating to Canadians that we are working on this issue.

We do not believe that it is justified that Canadians who have bank accounts here, who are honest and credible taxpaying Canadians who simply did not know that they have to file these documents, should be targeted. We are going to continue to insist that our American counterparts work on this. We are going to insist that the CRA is not going to collect these taxes on their behalf.

Mr. Speaker, Canada has one of the best trained and most productive public services in the world. By blowing money on unnecessary high-priced consultants, the Conservatives are throwing money at a problem that does not exist.

At a time when the government is preaching restraint, why is its budget for consultants totally out of control?

Andrew SaxtonConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, reckless spending and out-of control debt are the key problems facing other countries today.

Private sector advice is an essential part of our plan to ensure Canada avoids the economic and financial problems that have plagued much of the rest of the world. For every dollar that is spent, we expect to receive $200 in savings.

Mr. Speaker, this government is wasting money by creating a shadow public service. It is an insult to our government employees, it is an insult to our taxpayers, and it is another way for the government to reward its special friends. It does not make any sense to spend money to reduce expenses.

Why is this government refusing to invest in job creation but throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars out the window on expensive consultants?

Andrew SaxtonConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, Canada is not immune to the problems other countries are facing. Canadians gave us the strong mandate to protect and pursue Canada's economic recovery. Our government has a plan that involves keeping taxes low, creating employment for Canadians and ensuring economic growth. Irresponsible spending and uncontrollable debt are significant causes of the problems other countries are experiencing today.

We now know that the member for Parry Sound—Muskoka bought the 2008 election using the public treasury as his personal campaign war chest.

As much as we love hearing from the member for Calgary East read us prepared notes, I am not asking him. I am asking how the Prime Minister can put up with a Treasury Board President who violates his own Treasury Board guidelines to such an egregious extent.

Deepak ObhraiConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, maybe the hon. member should see his voting record and find out how they voted against it, because he will get the answer faster.

The facts have not changed. This issue has been thoroughly aired. The Auditor General had all the government information. I will tell the member that this government is focused on jobs and working for the economy. That is what Canadians elected the government for.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Liberals were up to their old tricks by once again obstructing our measures to get tough on crime.

Our government's Safe Streets and Communities Act would increase sentences for child sex offenders, end the use of house arrest for serious and violent crimes and increase penalties for drug dealers who specifically target our children.

Victims, police and Canadians are clear. It is time we put the rights of victims ahead of the rights of criminals and ensure that all criminals are held accountable.

Mr. Speaker, the minister's explanations to justify cuts to the budget for monitoring the ozone layer do not make sense. The minister claims that cuts are necessary to better monitor the pollution in the oil sands. The Conservatives are telling us that we have to sacrifice the ozone layer to better understand the pollution in the oil sands. The cuts will have consequences on the quality of our environment.

Mr. Speaker, I will say again that Environment Canada will continue to monitor the ozone. The World Ozone and Ultraviolet Data Centre will continue to deliver world-class services. Our government will continue to protect the environment in the most cost-effective way possible.

Mr. Speaker, the minister continues to insist that the cuts to the ozone monitoring programs are harmless, and he makes it sound so simple. He says that we have two ozone measurements and now we are just going to have one. However, he is disregarding the science because they measure different things.

Because of the minister's shortsightedness, now we will not have the data that we need to track the hole in the ozone layer. Why is the minister disregarding both science and common sense?

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has misquoted me, but I will assure her that the environment remains a key priority for this government, even at times of fiscal restraint. As we are doing across all of government, we will be taking a close look at all of our spending over the next year and the results of our deficit reduction action plan will be announced in the budget next spring.

Mr. Speaker, the Keystone pipeline is another example of the government's failed economic and environmental policies. The pace of development in the oil sands means that the government will not even meet its own climate change targets.

Will the minister explain why the government keeps summarily promoting this pipeline instead of defending the best interests of Canadians?

David AndersonConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board

Mr. Speaker, the Keystone XL pipeline will provide a substantial economic benefit to both Canada and the United States. We trade oil, natural gas and electricity across our borders every day.

While the opposition continues to bash Canada abroad, our government will defend the Canadian economy, will defend Canadian resources and will defend the 600,000-plus Canadian jobs that we have created since the recession started.

Mr. Speaker, the minister is talking about economic development, but we are talking about jobs. Workers in the region are very clear: the pipeline will cause the loss of thousands of good jobs in Canada.